Safety Tips for Driving In Wintry Conditions

January 20, 2018

Slow Down, Be Properly Equipped and Leave Plenty of Room

Winter driving can be a challenge when you live in the part of the country with significant snow and ice each year. Dealing with snow is one thing, but ice is the real danger when driving. Knowing how to safely drive in icy wintry conditions can literally save your life.

Get Snow Tires Don't let the label fool you. Good snow tires aren't just for driving in snow. They have deeper treads and more grooves to help with traction and gripping the road. This includes ice as well as snow. So living in our area, getting good snow tires for your car is essential.
Take Your Time The best trick for driving in wintry conditions is to take it slowly. Allow yourself a lot of extra time to get from A to B, and don't try to rush.
Leave Plenty of Room Don't let your car get too close to other vehicles or the guardrails. In winter conditions you can lose control in the blink of an eye and having an obstacle just a few feet from you is a hazard. Keep an extra couple of car lengths between you and the car in front, and don't cut your corners too tight as you make turns. Other drivers may not be as cautious as you are, so you want keep buffer space in case they are the ones to start skidding instead of you.
How to Handle a Skid The first instinct if your car starts to slide is to hit the brakes. The problem is that you lose all control over the motion of the car when you do that, so you need to learn how to steer and slow properly instead of just trying to blindly stop. The old adage of "turning into the skid" is the way to go, providing you actually know what that means. You have to turn your steering wheel in the same direction that the back end of the car is heading. This will (ideally) prevent a spin and further loss of control. Ease up on the gas, and let the car slow down on its own rather than stomping the brake.
Always Be Prepared Even if you are an old pro at winter driving, you can never control every situation. Being prepared in cold winter weather is the smart thing to do. Equip your car with a small shovel, bag of salt, sand or cat litter, and extra winter gear (like hats, and sturdy gloves), just in case you do end up off the road. Making sure that your auto insurance has you covered in the case of a winter accident is also important. Stop in and see us today - we would love to help.

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Auto Rates and Finger Prints: Both are Unique to You!

By Jeff Ryan • April 7, 2026

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